The Office of the State Fire Marshal this week was investigating a mobile home fire in Millville on Monday, Nov. 27, that may have resulted in a death.Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted by the Millville Volunteer Fire Company: Firefighters discovered a body in a mobile home after a fire in Millville on Monday, Nov. 27.
The fire, on Club House Road near Route 26, was reported just after 1 p.m. on Monday, according to Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael G. Chionchio. When volunteers from the Millville Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene, the mobile home was engulfed in flames.

Upon entering the burning structure, firefighters found the body of a person who had not yet been officially identified as of the Coastal Point’s press deadline on Wednesday. The victim’s body has since been transferred to the custody of the state Division of Forensic Services for an autopsy.

Response to the blaze was challenging, MVFC representatives said, because the mobile home was set back off the roadway, with no paved access to the structure.

Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Former CIA director John E. McLaughlin discussed national security issues, and had a bit of fun, at Dickens Parlour Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 21.Former director of the Central Intelligence Agency John E. McLaughlin strode onto the stage at the Dickens Parlour Theatre in Millville last week and got right down to business.

McLaughlin, who served as deputy director of the CIA from 2000 to 2004 and acting director of the agency from July 2004 to September 2004, chose five topics involving national security on which to focus during his hour-long talk.

It was during McLaughlin’s time as acting CIA director that Richard Bloch, owner of the theater, met McLaughlin, Bloch had told the audience for the first lecture in the venue’s inaugural lecture series.

Bloch recalled meeting the longtime intelligence officer at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, where the two men talked about their mutual love of magic — which Bloch joked made McLaughlin’s lurking security detail nervous as the men discussed “secrets” — about magic, not national security.

Residents of Millville by the Sea should be looking for an email survey soon, regarding traffic in the community. The developer needs public input for traffic issues before moving forward with the next MBTS neighborhood.

Maid on the Moon to showcase work at boardwalk arts festival

Coastal Point photos • Darin J. McCann: Katie Kirk and Michael Owens, a father daughter team, pose with some of their stained glass artwork in their Millville studio.Along with pet rocks and puka shells, artistic releases for people became very popular in the 1970s.

Ceramics and string-art classes became “fad-ulous,” as people were exploring different ways to express themselves. For instance, Michael Owens decided he wanted to tackle learning the art of stained glass as a hobby in 1975. One night, when his wife, Mary, was grading school papers, Michael asked her to draw up a crescent moon with an Indian maiden’s face on it.

“She’s like… yeah, here,” said Michael, imitating a busy person rushing through something to placate the requestor. “It was a ‘get-out-of-here’ type of thing — and that became our logo. That was in 1976.”

Mary was an accomplished painter, said Michael, and he would get her help on designs for his stained glass projects. Their routine continued, and Michael was eventually able to give up his full-time job and just focus on his art, spending 12-hour days in his studio in the couple’s detached garage.

Fire company gets new command truck

Parked in front of Millville Town Hall on Tuesday night, a shiny red SUV was taking a break from its day-job. Millville Volunteer Fire Company’s new command vehicle is a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, funded by a Town grant.

The vehicle will be on-scene for emergency calls, generally staffed by one of the company’s ranking officers.

Coastal Point • Submitted: Will Fern will be performing at Dickens Parlour Theatre through Aug. 15.In a dimly lit parlor in Millville, six clocks are displayed proudly in separate glass cases. Although the disarming little room is full of antique clocks, fortune-telling devices and other Victorian odds and ends, the clocks are unlike others.

They are unlike any others, in fact — because the clocks, designed by Jean-Robert Houdin in the mid-19th century, are the world famous “Mystery Clocks.” And this little group of six, displayed in the Dickens Parlour Theatre in Millville, is one of the largest known collections of Mystery Clocks in the nation.

With delicate glass faces and intricate gold hands and bases, the clocks defied logic by functioning without any visible apparatuses to control them. The little machines would tick away without the aid of gears or levers, and they quickly became a sensation.

The Millville Annexation Committee met on July 20 and unanimously agreed to recommend annexation of a 31.32-acre property to the town council.

A petition for annexation has been submitted by the Howard Robert Hickman Revocable Trust and Dr. James W. Schiff. The property is located at 32525 Dukes Drive, with the proposed use being a single-family-home development of 94 homes.

This weekend, community members and visitors to the area can get a taste of award-winning barbecue while supporting Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church’s planned Hope Center. The barbecue fundraiser will be held on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — or until the food runs out — at Doric Lodge #30, A.F. & M., in Millville.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Shrimp and grits is just one of the fresh dishes made a Good Earth Market.It seems fitting that an organic market has grown at such a… well… organic pace since it first opened 14 years ago.

Good Earth Organic Market in Clarksville and, more recently, Rehoboth Beach has now added dinners and events to its growing list of offerings, and early indications are that the new venture will blossom like the rest of the business has.

Much of that confidence comes because of, and from, the market’s new chef, Nino Mancari, who comes to Good Earth after years in some of the area’s most successful restaurants.

With the Good Earth kitchen garden in place and literally buzzing with activity these days, and with a number of successful farm dinners held on the grounds in recent years, owner Susan Ryan has expanded the vision for the business to include not only dinners served on the premises Wednesday through Saturday evenings, but also “pop-up” happy-hours on Fridays. Good Earth, which already hosts weddings and other special celebrations, will now provide food for those events in-house.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Members of the MillVols stand with backpacks they are donating to foster kids.When children are pulled into the foster-care system, it can happen in a matter of minutes. Sometimes it’s in the middle of the night, with police downstairs and a social worker telling the child to pack her belongings into a trash bag.

“You’ve got 10 minutes to pack your life away, and it’s not fair,” said Pat Moulder.

She and the Millville Volunteers wanted to make life easier for children as they enter the system. They recently collected more than 35 backpack care packages for local foster children, ages 10 to 15. A typical bag included toiletries, activity books, colored pencils, a novel, nail polish, socks and a water bottle. Each also included a warm fleece blanket to provide extra comfort during tough times.

The bags themselves are something nice that the kids can own and use, at school, the beach or just trekking around. Most importantly, it’s a step up from a trash or grocery bag.

Beebe Healthcare’s Board of Directors earlier this month approved a proposal for a comprehensive expansion of the system over the next several years. The $180 million expansion will touch three communities — Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Millville.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Jesus Christ’s disciples tell their stories in the ‘Living Last Supper’ performance at Millville U.M. Church. This year’s actors include, from left, Tom Maly, Chuck Erbe, Rich Spina, George Townsend, Bob Heird, David Long, the Rev. Brad Schutt, Garland Saville, Joe Skinner, Richard Shoobridge, Lee Brubaker and Donald Maeby.Art and religion come to life in the “Living Last Supper,” the story of Jesus Christ’s disciples, which will be presented April 12 and 13 by Millville United Methodist Church.

The one-hour performance begins with Jesus revealing that one of his disciples will betray him. The men are startled into the pose of Leonardo da Vinci’s 1498 painting “The Last Supper.”

One by one, each of the apostles tells his story, about life beforehand and how Jesus personally impacted them. Audiences will hear their regrets and the moments that moved them.

“It explains to the people what the people went through when they met Jesus, … plus after he was crucified,” said Joe Skinner, who plays Phillip.

“It humanizes the character we’re playing. It brings them to life,” said Rich Spina, who plays Andrew.